Not being offended by lesbianism and accepting it as just a normal part of life, i.e. not even being aware it is even a "thing", bespeaks of an intelligence and open society. Combined with durability, safety, and practicality, there was a larger group of intelligent people Subaru was appealing to than just the 5 micro-groups mentioned in the article. These qualities are very Japanese. For some reason, I always thought of Subaru as European with an American flavor. It seems much more American to me than Nissan, Mitsubishi, Toyota, or Honda. Seemingly unique and different has helped them. Everyday I see a neighbor's Subaru and think "how intelligent and different" and I am a little jealous that I don't own a Subaru. He parks the car backwards in the driveway which is done in case a quick exit is needed, a mark of intelligence and concern for safety, which seems to be the features Subaru exhibits and attracts. Lack of a male companion and being an "outcast" (at least in the past) possibly makes lesbians more concerned about safety in general, not just dependability. It's an intriguing story that goes beyond lesbianism. It's kind of distracting that it's cast as a "controversial" topic. There's something more here than gay rights, marketing, or controversy, as presented in the article. I think it's a triumph stemming from the Japanese people being simple, rational, and non-judgmental. If only the rational pursuit of profit were always like this.